Child Rights
Children are particularly vulnerable to disasters, owing to their young age, dependency requirements, and developmental status. In disasters, nearly all of a child's rights are at stake, from basic survival to freedom from abuse and exploitation, as well as access to health care and education.
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Right to Protection
Every child has an inalienable right to life. The UNCRC recognises that children, particularly young children, are vulnerable and require special protection and assistance. The state is responsible for ensuring the child's survival. This right ensures children are safeguarded against all forms of abuse, neglect and exploitation. They have right to be free from exploitation and free from all forms of sexual, physical and psychological abuse, violence and neglect. States therefore have a legal obligation to ensure the safety and security of children in all disaster contexts.
Right to Participate
Children have the right not only to freely express their opinions in all matters affecting them, but those opinions must also be given due weight in accordance with their age and maturity. This is especially true when it comes to ensuring that the voices of children are heard and respected at all stages of disaster preparation, prevention, response, and recovery. This right encompass children’s freedom to express opinions, to have a say in matters affecting their own lives. We need to create more child-friendly materials so that children can make decisions that affect their lives and the lives of their communities.
Right to Survive
Include a child’s right to life and the needs that are most basic to the existence, such as nutrition. It includes access to Medical care, nutrition, protection from harmful habits (including drugs) and safe working environments under the right to health and access to special care and support for the special needs children.
Development rights
This include the right to education, play, leisure, cultural activities etc. Everyone is entitled to an education as a human right. However, in times of emergency, states face challenges in ensuring and protecting the right to education, particularly for already marginalised and vulnerable groups. Playing is also an essential part of growing up. Children develop pliancy and flexibility through play and recreational activities, which leads to physical and psychological growth. For children's optimal development, the right to education, rest, leisure, and play must be accepted consistently.